Playground wish to become a reality

THE wishes of the children of Clarecastle are set to come true with plans for the development of a playground in Clarecastle given the go-ahead by Clare County Council.

Plans are now underway by the Clarecastle Community Development Company to raise funds for the playground. Already, money has been raised through this year’s Clarecastle Regatta and bingo. This weekend, there will be a church gate collection and more fundraising activities are in the pipeline for the future.

According to Donal Carey of the development company, “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured planning permission for this site, which has a long tradition with holding funfairs and circuses for the past 50 years. The community has been very supportive of this and we are delighted with that.”

According to Mr Carey, it is estimated that around €30,000 will need to be raised locally for the project, with the development company hoping to secure the remaining funding from Clare County Council and LEADER.
Mr Carey, also chairman of the regatta committee, emphasised, “Local fundraising for this project is very important and that’s why the money donated from the regatta is so grateful. The playground will be a very welcome addition to the main street of Clarecastle, giving a lift and bringing people into the heart of the village.”

The Clarecastle Community Development Company had lodged a planning application with the local authority for the development of the playground, one of a number of projects planned by the organisation for the future improvement of the village.

This follows a comprehensive survey of local people in Clarecastle, including the national school’s 400 children, to see what they would like to see in the village and top of the children’s wishlist is a  place for them to play.

The playground is to be situated at Clare Commons, at the rear of Power’s car park, following an extensive review of possible sites in the village. In granting planning permission, Clare County Council’s planning authority stated, “Having regard to the zoning of the site, the intended use of the proposed development, the policies of the current development plan and the pattern of development in the area, it is considered that, subject to conditions, the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity and will be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

Planning permission for the project was granted, subject to three conditions. The first condition is that the development be carried out and completed in accordance with drawings and particulars received by the planning authority. Prior to installation of play areas, full details of proposed external finishes to the play equipment are to be submitted for agreement and approval by the planning authority and all surface water generated shall be collected and disposed of within the site, not discharged to the public sewer, onto the public road or adjoining residential properties.

In making their application to the local authority, Mr Carey, on behalf of the Clarecastle Community Development Company, pointed out that for a number of years, funds have been allocated towards the development of a playground in Clarecastle, however the money had never been drawn down because of a lack of consensus on a location.

He stated, “Clarecastle Community Development Company was set up in March to help overcome such issues and to focus the community into action on the enhancement of our village/environs. One of the first projects undertaken by this group was to do an audit amongst all community groups into the projects they thought needed addressing, which would help achieve the goal of the development group/community.

“One of the groups who were asked for their opinion were the children attending the local national school. Nearly 400 responses were received from the children and top of their wish list was the development of a playground.

“Other groups also included the need for a playground as their priority and hence why the development company has pursued this project in spite of the withdrawal of allocated funding and the lack of consensus on the location.”

An audit of community groups identified five possible locations for the playground. An evaluation of the site analysing availability, visibility, children protection/safety, concern for neighbours and cost was carried out and from all sites identified Clarecastle Commons ranked above the others. The playground plans have been designed by Ray O’Leary.

Clarecastle Community Development Ltd (CCDL) came together last year in a bid to improve and develop the village. The development company has concluded a lengthy consultation process with the people and organisations of Clarecastle through which it aimed to establish the community’s future vision for the village. 

Using the feedback it received, Clarecastle Community Development Ltd plans to put together a development plan for the next few years but in the meantime, six projects were identified as being of significant importance to the community.

An appeal has been made for people in the community to become involved in the project teams to help realise the projects.

As well as the playground, other plans include the development of a community hub/centre, a focal point for the village with new and improved facilities for all. Other projects include drawing up a business register of local businesses, the development of a farmers’ market, setting up a community garden and developing a river walkway.